WORD from the woods
Colossians 1:15-23
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."
This is without question, one of the most incredible passages in all of scripture! These verses emphasize the most important and central point of Christianity, the glory and preeminence of Christ. The first verse, says that Christ is the firstborn of all creation, this doesn't mean that He was created first, the very next verse says that He created everything! The term firstborn is a way of telling us that Christ is above all things, He has always existed as the second person of the triune God. Just as in many cultures, the firstborn son becomes the head of the family, so Christ is the head of the family of God, the head of the church. And not merely the head of the church, since He created all dominions and authorities, He is over and above all rule and authority. Christ is King over everything in heaven and on earth, and nothing happens that He is not sovereign over! When Paul says, that Christ is the firstborn from the dead, he is telling us that Christ was and is the first to be resurrected, and one day we will follow Him in resurrection! We are told here, that all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Christ, this tells us that while He walked the earth, he was still 100% the almighty creator of everything. Our savior Jesus Christ, lived and breathed and walked this world to set a perfect example for us to follow, and in the process He became the perfect, unblemished, Lamb of God who was sacrificed in our place on the cross. Through this, God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him, that even sinners like us can be presented as holy and blameless before the Father. Paul charges us to continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of this gospel, which has been proclaimed in all creation! Praise God that he has sent His Son for us! When I think about who Christ is, and who I am as a broken sinner, it's almost unbelievable that He would let me come to the table of grace and have the kind of forgiveness that only He can offer and then serve Him as King and Lord of all!
God bless and have have a great week! -Terry-
Colossians 1:15-23
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."
This is without question, one of the most incredible passages in all of scripture! These verses emphasize the most important and central point of Christianity, the glory and preeminence of Christ. The first verse, says that Christ is the firstborn of all creation, this doesn't mean that He was created first, the very next verse says that He created everything! The term firstborn is a way of telling us that Christ is above all things, He has always existed as the second person of the triune God. Just as in many cultures, the firstborn son becomes the head of the family, so Christ is the head of the family of God, the head of the church. And not merely the head of the church, since He created all dominions and authorities, He is over and above all rule and authority. Christ is King over everything in heaven and on earth, and nothing happens that He is not sovereign over! When Paul says, that Christ is the firstborn from the dead, he is telling us that Christ was and is the first to be resurrected, and one day we will follow Him in resurrection! We are told here, that all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Christ, this tells us that while He walked the earth, he was still 100% the almighty creator of everything. Our savior Jesus Christ, lived and breathed and walked this world to set a perfect example for us to follow, and in the process He became the perfect, unblemished, Lamb of God who was sacrificed in our place on the cross. Through this, God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him, that even sinners like us can be presented as holy and blameless before the Father. Paul charges us to continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of this gospel, which has been proclaimed in all creation! Praise God that he has sent His Son for us! When I think about who Christ is, and who I am as a broken sinner, it's almost unbelievable that He would let me come to the table of grace and have the kind of forgiveness that only He can offer and then serve Him as King and Lord of all!
God bless and have have a great week! -Terry-